Is it possible to change an unhealthy relationship to a healthy relationship and if so, how?

Dear Reader,

Whoever said relationships take work wasn't kidding. Without attention, the occasional lovers' quarrel can easily drag a relationship downhill into constant bickering, or even worse, physical violence. Change is possible, but for many couples, it's an uphill battle to develop healthier habits.

For starters, you may want to check out Healthy vs. unhealthy relationships in the Go Ask Alice! archive. In a nutshell, a healthy relationship makes you feel good about yourself, your partner, and life in general. In contrast, an unhealthy relationship leaves you feeling unhappy, unsafe, or scared about the future.

Sometimes the line between feeling good and feeling bad when you're with someone is unclear. Hence the saying, "I love you, but you drive me crazy!" Rather than labeling partnerships as simply "good" or "bad," it may be helpful to picture a scale ranging from very healthy to very unhealthy. In reality, lots of relationships may fall somewhere in the middle. Just like individual people, all relationships have strengths and challenges. For example, you and your sweetie may get along swell between the sheets, but when it's time to do laundry, conflict erupts. Oftentimes, both partners play a part in escalating disagreements. The capacity for change depends on several factors, including the severity of the problem(s) and the commitment of both parties to making progress.

The more unhealthy a relationship is, the more difficult it can be to change for the better. At one extreme, several studies have looked at ways to address physical violence between couples. Unfortunately, batterer intervention programs have not been very effective in replacing abuse with healthier coping skills. In less severe situations where the disagreement isn't physical, good communication and conflict resolution skills are still key.

A good first step towards a healthier relationship is to identify your conflict managment and resolution style." When conflict is brewing, how do you react? Do you…

Once you are more aware of your default disposition, you can take steps to respond more constructively instead of just reacting in the heat of the moment. The next time trouble arises, try to listen to your partner's concerns, and then share your own perspective in a sensitive way.

Building a healthy relationship takes skill and determination from both partners, but it can be done. Seeking help from a counselor or couples therapy increases the chance that your relationship will move onward and upward!

March 30, 2015

I love your advice. I was in a similar relationship and it was the hardest belief to walk away from. Unhealthy relationships require alot of effort on both parts to change, communicate and the will...

I love your advice. I was in a similar relationship and it was the hardest belief to walk away from. Unhealthy relationships require alot of effort on both parts to change, communicate and the will to save bond that was developed. I personally feel like counseling would be the first step into salvaging the relationship. A healthy relationship brings the best out of you not the worst. Its normal to argue, we all disagree but the important factor is, how do you handle that disagreement. Can you talk about it maturely or do you scream, break things, or even get physical? I personally transformed in to a monster. We could never have a rational conversation. We could never agree on anything. Our conversations became arguements. Our arguements would arise to nothing good. We never got anywhere. I just came to the realization that its wasnt a healthy realtionship and it wasnt going to change. I did seek counseling to come to this realization becasue sometimes it takes someone pointing out the truth. Definetly look at Alices healthy and unhealthy relationship page. There is alot of useful information.